It’s no secret that I absolutely worship Debbie Gibson. I have been a true blue fan of hers since she first hit it big with hits like “Only In My Dreams,” “Shake Your Love” and “Foolish Beat.”
“Foolish Beat” entered Debbie into the Guinness Book Of World Records as the youngest artist in history to write, produce and perform a No. 1 Billboard Hit, a title which she still holds to this day and a feat that is now celebrating its 25th anniversary!
She followed that in 1989 with her Electric Youth album, which spawned the worldwide smash “Lost In Your Eyes” and my favorite fragrance of all-time, “Electric Youth Perfume,” a fragrance I still swear by!
Debbie still records regularly, appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, and she has a lifelong love of live theater. Her credits are staggering and she has appeared in many Broadway shows, playing Eponine in Les Misérables, Sandy and Rizzo in Grease, Fannie Bryce in an American tour of Funny Girl, Belle in Beauty And The Beast, Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy and many others.
In 2010 she did a song “Rise” and co-created the score for, 3 Billion and Counting, a documentary about Malaria prevention in Third World countries. Gibson then released a new album, Ms. Vocalist, from Sony Japan that was top 10 on the Billboard charts and the first single, “I Love You,” hit No. 1, and she headlined a sold out tour in Japan.
This romantic album reminded me a lot of my absolute favorite album of hers Think With Your Heart, which should have won many awards. It was a masterpiece!
Debbie is a multi-talented philanthropist, and started her own charitable musical arts “boot camp” program for kids called “Debbie Gibson’s Electric Youth”.
As if that wasn’t enough, she also formed “Gibson Girl Foundation,” a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to underprivileged talented children to participate in performing arts programs.
In 2011, she starred alongside old “rival” Tiffany for a scream-tacular SyFy movie Mega-Python vs. Gatoroid and they had a catfight scene that I loved! Imagine a Dynasty throw down with hair-pulling and a cake food fight! She wrote and recorded a song in about a week for this movie, called “Snake Charmer” and released it on iTunes.
She did a hilarious tongue-in-cheek cameo in Katy Perry’s enormously popular Last Friday Night in which she played the mother of Katy.
The last time she performed in San Diego was as a headliner for the 2006 Gay Pride Festival in Balboa Park, where she stole the show and thrilled the crowd with a hit-filled set all during a considerably wet summer rainstorm, that shorted out the electrical equipment, but she continued on anyway, and did what she does best with just her voice and her piano. It was fabulous.
I am thrilled to announce she is coming back!
This time with Star Search legend Sam Harris for Music of the ’80s, a retrospective of her hits and more, backed by the San Diego Symphony, Aug. 23 and 24.
For a fun flashback mixed with a full orchestra, get your tickets now at sandiegosymphony.org
She and I had a quick chat about this show and what’s coming up for her.
Boy Mike: How did your shows with Sam Harris come about?
Debbie Gibson: Producer Steve Cook approached Sam and Sam approached me. I’d follow Sam to the ends of the world because he has immeasurable talent and heart!
Was doing a 1980s retrospective your idea?
Nope. Can’t claim credit! (Laughs). I do all my hits in all my shows anyway so I thought the idea of orchestrating them was brilliant.
What ’80s songs are you going to perform and are you planning to do any duets with Sam?
A few of my own. You’ll hafta be surprised. Plus, a huge medley of my fave ‘80s songs by other artists and a romantic ballad with Sam! Again. Be surprised!
What are your top three songs and what makes them so special to you?
Hmm. It varies daily. So, today, with a birthday approaching – which I like to call “arrival day” (because there’s really no birth and death now is there?) – I’d say “Electric Youth” because it really is about the spirit of being young. “Foolish Beat” is timeless for me, and hmm … this is like picking your favorite child. I am going to pick a song you may have not heard called “Rise” from my man’s documentary 3 Billion and Counting. It’s about the power of spirit. Check it out on iTunes.
Tell me how important are your gay fans to you?
Oh my God. Without my gay audience I would not have the same career! I am eternally grateful for their loyalty and love.
What future projects are you working on?
I wrote the music and some lyrics for Jimmy Van Patten’s musical, The Flunky, debuting next year, possibly in Vegas. I also wrote two new songs for Cirque Musica and will be joining the acts and symphonies for a few dates. Primarily though, I am working on writing and in pre–production for a new album that will be worth the wait!
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me. Any final thoughts for our readers?
Yes! This is not your grandma’s symphony! It’s pretty rockin’ and revolutionary. Though … if she’s an electric youth, bring her too!
To keep up with Debbie, check out her Facebook Fan Page which she updates regularly!
